by Nicole Snow
I took her straight to the clubhouse. No work for her today. My boys could pour their own damned drinks or have Miner do it if they wanted.
On the way home, her shitty Toyota snorted. I was in the driver's seat, one more thing to help her ease the burden.
“Fuck, baby. We've got to find you something better when things calm down.” I looked at the car's control panel and saw the gas gauge was completely broken. “Uh, not just because you deserve it. Driving this thing around with the renegades out there's bound to invite trouble. Your bro knows this car and the asshole we mopped up did too.”
“Whatever. You don't want to be seen behind this rust bucket's wheel?”
I flexed my fingers defensively and glanced over. The meager smile on her face surprised me. Didn't expect her to crack a joke, however lame. I smiled back, but mine was real.
Despite all the bullshit the world had thrown at her, she wasn't broken.
The rain and the funeral created a lazy atmosphere at the clubhouse. I laid next to her for a good hour, cradling her in my old bed as she fell asleep. The raindrops pattered against our windows, cruel and relentless, incessant reminders I had some serious fucking work to do.
The landline was ringing as I unlocked my office. Hoped it was just one of my guys reporting in from patrol, and not Throttle.
I snatched the receiver and pressed it to my hear. “It's Blaze.”
“Hey, asshole. What's this I hear about you tripping all over yourself for a girl? Never thought I'd see the day, Michael.”
I clenched my jaw. My dickhead brother chose the worst time to call.
“Aaron. Maverick. Where the hell are you?”
“Sunny Iowa. June and I are hanging out with little sis before we head up to Minnesota. I saw the shit out your way rolling in. Glad I'm where things are a hell of a lot prettier right now.”
He was talking about the weather, but it could've easily been our lives. Fuck, why couldn't I have a little of his luck?
“Whatever, bro. I know you're not man enough to admit you miss the Wild West, Grizzlies and all.”
Maverick laughed. “That's right. The bears are your fucking problem now, brother. Hope you put 'em in their place before Throttle sends our asses up there as reinforcements.”
“It'll never be a full war like we were looking at before,” I said coldly. “Nomads won't do us any good. I got guys here who'll defend this territory like their own because it really is.”
I practically saw him shrug over the line. Awkward silence. Normally I would've razzed back a lot more viciously, but the funeral killed every shred of wit and humor.
“Now, what about the girl? Heard it's the brunette with the flower tattoos my old lady used to manage. Saffron, right?”
Jealousy shot through me. Didn't want to think about any man who knew about those tattoos, though my brother was far from the only man who'd seen them. Her time up on the stage meant there were hundreds of guys who'd seen her the only way I should.
“I'm not in the mood for this shit. Whatever brotherly wisdom you're thinking about coughing up, just say it and let me go. I got a lot of work to do.”
“What's going on up there? Really?” His tone lowered and thickened with concern. “Heard there was some kind of killing.”
“Saffron's mother. Gonna pay the fuck's back big time. Not that it's really any of your fucking business seeing how you're hundreds of miles away. Neither is my love life.”
“Yeah? You sure stepped into mine when June came around, scared she was influencing me too much.” He paused. “I'm not interested in payback. I'm just trying to help your clueless ass, Michael.”
Bastard. He always had to get in a few insults. Same as me.
“Clueless how?”
“If you want her, now's the time to show her how fucking much. Throttle wouldn't have mentioned her if she was just another lay. If you're serious, then you need to claim her, brother. Get your brand on her today.”
“I already told the brothers where they can stick it,” I growled. “They know she's off limits. Plenty of whores around here lately to keep their cocks wet anyway.”
“Then where's the brand? She got your patch? How about your name on her skin?” Maverick paused long enough for my adrenaline to surge. “Didn't think so. Don't bullshit me, Blaze. I moved in and took control when June needed me the most.”
“Her fucking mother just died. Romance has gotta be the furthest thing from a sane woman's mind after something like that.”
Maverick laughed. God damn I wanted to reach through the phone and grab his thick neck. It'd probably end in a draw, just like all the fights we had when we were kids.
“No, this is when she needs you even more. That goes double if the girl's got nobody else. I know you're new to relationships about more than getting your dick wet, but you need to trust me on this.”
“I don't need to do shit, bro. We're equals with the same patch. I make my own fucking decisions.”
Hot anger flared out my nostrils. He was getting me more worked up than I should've let him, but I'd been under him too long as his VP. Last thing I needed was his fucking input on the most important decision in my life.
“No disagreements about that. Just trying to get you to man up as a brother. Come on, Michael. You've always been the asshole when it came to girls and club business. Right now, I'm taking over so you don't have to be. You know what to do.”
I relaxed a little. He was a forceful sonofabitch, but he was my brother by blood and patch. Much as I hated to admit it, he was right too.
“I'll do what I need to. Next time you hear from me, all this shit will be in order. All of it. Take care out there. And say hello to Aimee and June for me.”
“No need to!” June's voice came on the line and I heard a small scuffle. “You were wrong about me and you're wrong about this. Listen to Maverick and man up, Blaze. Rock her world so hard she forgets all about the pain and suffering. It's the best thing a man can do for his old lady.”
More curses and playful slaps as my bro and his old lady fought over the phone. Gave me a few seconds to think.
“Blaze? You there?” I told my brother I was. “Just be glad you're hearing it from us. Aimee knows about the girl too and she wanted to deliver the same message we're giving you. She's anxious to have you follow in my footsteps.”
“Whatever. Thanks. You've given me something to chew on, brother.”
I ended the call. He was right, my blood would've boiled twice as hot having our junkie-turned-clean-and-loveable sister on my ass.
I went to work and checked in with my guys. Everybody bitched about the rain, which kept coming in strong bursts throughout the day. No sign of the renegades, and it wasn't much surprise.
Nobody wanted to be out driving around on a day like this, much less on Harleys.
When I saw everything was clear, I phoned Emma. She figured I was calling about Tank, but I really needed to talk to her mother, the owner of a seamstress and tailoring business in town.
If I was gonna get Saffron with me and breathe some light into her, then I had to do it right. I wanted her to sport her colors as my old lady and let the whole club know.
Almost as bad as I wanted to find her shithead bro and the rest of the assholes who'd caused us so much grief. Almost as much as I wanted to feel their spines snap beneath my fingers, piece by brittle piece. Almost.
But almost wasn't fucking good enough. No matter how hungry I was for blood, I wanted her more. Nothing else came close to having Saffron happy, safe, and mine.
Mine forever.
“Wake up, baby. We've got shit to do tonight. You've rested long enough.”
She fought me at first. I gripped her skinny wrist, gently shaking her when she tried to shrug me off.
Saffron looked pissed as hell. Who could blame her?
She sat up, lips pursed sourly, especially when she saw the glass of water and aspirin I shoved toward her.
“What's this?”
“Something to make you feel human. I'm not gonna let you sleep your life away. Club's having a little bonfire to take the edge off recent bullshit. You're coming.”
She crashed back on the bed and stuck her head in the pillows. Shit, this was gonna be harder than I thought.
I set the water and pills down on the nightstand and dove on top of her. Knocked the pillow clean off her head and then pushed my face to her ear. She struggled, but I wasn't going anywhere until I had her in tow.
“I know you're in pain, babe. I let you sleep this shit off for a solid week. Not tonight. Give me a few hours. Need to see you realize your life didn't end at the fucking funeral too.”
She sat up to speak. Wondered if she was about to sink her little teeth into my finger.
“Jesus, Blaze. You think I want to suck down booze and listen to a bunch of drunken idiots mess around with their whores?”
“It's not like that. Just the brothers and a few guests. Not a fucking party in the proper sense. No women whoring around. Come on.” My hands tightened on her wrist and I pulled her up.
This time, I wasn't letting go.
Saffron tumbled into my lap and I had a good look at her. The long dark hair flowing down her shoulders was a mess. Her eyes were still puffy and slightly red, despite the near coma she'd been in since the funeral.
Yep, no two ways about it: the girl needed tough love.
I wouldn't let her follow her ma into an early grave. She was mine, dammit, and it was my job to reignite her whole world.
“Let's get up and move around. This shit's not healthy. It's giving into the assholes who murdered her and tore your heart to smithereens.”
“What do you know?” She hissed. “It's called grief, Blaze. You wouldn't understand.”
“Bullshit. You don't think I've lost people? I lost my own damned father and plenty of good brothers along the way. We have funerals and we mourn just like anybody else. But you know what? Give it a day, a weekend, or maybe a solid week, and life goes on. Your Mom couldn't get out of bed, could she?”
“What's that got to do with anything?” Saffron looked like an angry mess.
Didn't fucking matter one bit. She was my mess, and she looked as beautiful as she did on the only mind blowing night we'd shared. Must've been a strange kinda magic to be so pretty and so fucked up all at once.
“She couldn't get up and live. You want to think how pissed she'd be if she knew her only daughter was living the same way when she doesn't have to? I'm not saying get over it, because you never really do. But you don't have to let this shit poison your life. You can have any life you want, baby. Anything.”
She stared at me. Resistance flickered in her eyes, but she couldn't deny what I'd said. There was no enthusiasm as I pulled her onto her feet. I practically fed the pills and small sips of water down her throat.
Whatever. I got her moving, and that's all that mattered.
The clubhouse was dead quiet except for Emma. She came by to check on Tank, who was rebounding nicely, and to drop off what I'd ordered from the family business.
“Outside.” I pointed, stopping at the door to the little courtyard we'd made behind the clubhouse. “There's lots of good spots out there. Don't be afraid to sit down next to my boys and just chill. I'll be there shortly.”
Saffron shook her head and opened her mouth. “But, Blaze...”
Her eyes were pleading. I'm not ready for this, they seemed to say.
I wasn't having it.
No more talk. I beamed a warning back at her, and it worked. She closed her pretty lips and turned, sighing as she pushed her way out.
Hurt like hell to see her go. I'd learned a long time ago that tough love is never fucking easy, and this was the toughest yet.
The door to the infirmary opened and slammed shut just as I was approaching. Tank staggered past me, a pissed off look on his face. He didn't even look at me as he went on his way, pounding the cane he'd gotten into the ground while his leg healed.
Didn't take a psychic to feel the bad juju bristling around him. I coughed, annoyed and wondering what the hell was going on. Just when I reached for the door, it flung open again, and Emma stepped out.
Red eyes and lots of wrinkles in her young face. Christ, she looked a whole lot like Saffron. Was everybody in this fucking place bawling their eyes out today?
“What's wrong?” I demanded.
She didn't notice me until I spoke, and when she did, her eyes went wide. I looked down and saw the big package wrapped in plastic.
“Here. I brought it along, just like you asked. Hope it's right. Mom worked with what you gave her. If you need any alterations, just send it back. I...won't be here for awhile unless you really need me. Tank's good to get along without my supervision.”
“Yeah? Didn't look real good when he came stomping out ahead of you. What's up?”
Her eyes narrowed and she gave me an ugly pout. “I'm here to do my work for you, Blaze, and that's it. I'll make sure my personal crap doesn't become club business. God, I'm such an idiot...”
Emma shoved the carefully wrapped jacket into my arms and took off. I took one step toward her, getting ready to yell, but fell back at the last second.
Fuck it. Not my problem; not my business.
The evening was off to a shitty start, and there was no guarantee this was gonna go like I hoped. Last thing I needed was to become a goddamned counselor. Especially for giants with bum legs and nurses who really didn't have any business here beyond patching up my boys.
I walked around the corner and stopped, tearing away the plastic. Finally some fucking good news. The short women's cut was just like I wanted. Looked a lot like the one Moose's old lady Connie wore when she was younger.
On the front, it was sleek and smooth, all leather, just like a standard riding jacket with long sleeves. I held it up and inhaled. Shit, it even smelled good, fresh leather meant to mingle with my woman's scent.
I turned it over. The club's cocky devil was on the back, the same face I'd dedicated my life to. The patches surrounding his grin were the real important part.
PROPERTY OF BLAZE, PRAIRIE DEVILS MC, MONTANA.
It was perfect. No joke. I couldn't wait to see it on her, if she'd do me the highest honor a man can receive when he takes an old lady.
All I knew was I wasn't taking no for an answer.
I tucked the jacket under my arm and stepped outside. The guys and a tiny gaggle of girls were drinking near the fire.
I found her sitting glumly by herself underneath a tree in a fold out chair, well away from everybody else by the fire. She didn't see me coming.
“Pretty cool this evening when you're not by the flames. I want this to keep you warm.” I draped the coat over her shoulders and steadied it there when her shoulders flinched.
That got a response. She looked at me in surprise, bringing one hand to her opposite arm to caress the leather. I watched her fingers pinch at the material and roll down it, giving it a good feel.
“What's this? Looks like something you'd wear.”
“Stand up. Open it so you can see. Read the back.”
I held in a smile as she obeyed. A man only gets a few serious moments of truth in his life, and this was one of them.
She gripped it by the arms and spread it, carefully mouthing the phrase PROPERTY OF BLAZE to herself. Fuck, just seeing her lips forming those words sent a jolt straight to my cock.
Maybe I was an animal for feeling the urge when she was in so much pain. Couldn't be helped, though, and I didn't regret it for a second either.
“It's yours, baby, if you'll have it. It's more than just a leather jacket.” I stepped closer, and she looked at me, eyes questioning. “I know what you're thinking. The property part's a compliment in this world. Means nobody else will even try to lay a hand on you, much less anything else, or I'll make them fucking sorry they even got the thought in their stupid heads.”
“Okay...” Her cheeks reddened. She looked so small, unsure.
I reached out and clasped her in my embrace, smashing the new jacket between us. One hand pushed flat against her back, drawing her into me, until we were face to face and only inches apart.
“I'm asking you to be my old lady, Saffron. A new chapter for your life, for us, right after another one slammed shut. You gonna help me write it?”
I couldn't remember the last time I held my breath. Maybe during the vote to make me President of this charter, and the outcome here was much less certain.
She looked up slowly, blinking a couple times.
Damn it, woman, hurry up. I'll fucking suffocate here if you don't give me an answer.
“Blaze! Blaze...Blaze...Blaze...”
She pushed against me firmly. Her sweet tits flattened on my chest and she leaned up, pushing her cheek against my stubble. I grunted, inhaling her scent, wondering why she was on the verge of tears and calling my name over and over.
“Is that a 'yes?'” I asked. Shameless and impatient.
“Yes!” As soon as the word steamed into my ear, I squeezed her tight, running my hands down to her ass.
“It's been so hard. The danger, the funeral...”
“I know, baby. You got nothing to fear. I told you that a hundred times. This is what's right.”
“I don't doubt it anymore. Just a couple weeks ago, I wasn't sure, but I'm not having second thoughts anymore. You're right, Blaze. This is where I belong,” she said softly, before giving me a look with more life than I'd seen since we fucked. “I'll wear this and do you proud.”
Just what I wanted to hear. I reached up, cupped her chin between my fingers, and brushed my lips over hers. One little prelude to the deep, hungry kiss that came next, obliterating more than a week of pure loneliness without her lips on mine.
Lust wasn't far behind. The familiar demon roared in my blood, hungry to get her alone and unwrapped. I thought about what she'd look like wearing the new jacket and nothing else.
Fucking-A. There was a thought. We do it like that, and I'll go raw and rough and deep for hours. This is the only sweet flesh I need, now and for the rest of my life.
I kissed her deep. Just when I was about to throttle back, she pushed her tongue against mine, gasping a little at the raw passion burbling between us.
